Source Locations of Coronal Mass Ejections and the Large-Scale Solar Magnetic Field

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This project will study and classify the kinds of large-scale restructuring of the global solar field which are related to Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs). CMEs involve large-scale restructuring of the corona and the ejection of large amounts of mass and energy into the heliosphere. However, we know very little about how or where CMEs originate or how they develop, so it is important to understand their relationship to the large-scale magnetic fields patterns near the solar surface and in the low corona. We propose a two-part approach to this problem. First, we will study the source locations of Skylab and SMM CMEs determined by mapping them onto synoptic maps for each solar rotation. Such maps are now available tracing the large-scale global magnetic fields from the photosphere, through the chromosphere, and into the corona. When stacked in time-series, such maps reveal large-scale patters of convergence, divergence and shear of the fields. Second, the locations of these CMEs will be compared with white light synoptic maps and daily coronagraphic images to determine the relationship of CMEs to preexisting coronal streamers. This project will enhance our understanding of the physics of solar activity, especially CMEs, of the structure and evolution of the corona, and or the propagation of large-scale disturbances through the heliosphere.